Bamboo Forest in Damyang

I just visited the Bamboo Forest in Damyang, a little town just north of Gwangju. It was so beautiful and we had so much fun.

I met Maggie and Bomi at the Gwangju Yok (yok = train station) when their train came in at 10:30am. From there, we walked over to the tourist stand outside where Bomi asked someone where we needed to go. This was great, because she came out of the stand carrying maps for all of us. I've wanted a map of my city since I got here! And now I have one! Three, actually. One basic map of Gwangju (in Korean, but now I know where to go back and get one in English!), a map of Gwangju with the major tourist sites pointed out (in English!), and a map of Damyang to use for the day.

Once we found out where we needed to go, we took the stairs inside the train station up to the 3rd floor where there was an inside platform that crossed over the train tracks and took us to the street on the other side of the station. From there, we waited for bus 311. Incidentally, it passed us by the first time because it was full. The second time, however, we were able to pay our 2,200W (about $2) and board the bus to Damyang.

*As a side note, bus fair is usually only 1,000W (about $0.80) but this particular bus was taking us about a half hour away to the city of Damyang specifically for the tourist attractions there, so it was more expensive.

The bus ride was pretty fun - I think the bus driver took the curvy on and off ramps of the interstate at about 70mph (or the equivalent in kph) and we all had to hang on to the oh-sh*t handles so thoughtfully provided by the bus manufacturer. I wouldn't have taken them any faster than 35mph in my CAR - something that has a much lower center of gravity. We laughed the entire time. I used my English-version map of Damyang to trick Maggie into thinking I could read her Korean version of the same map particularly well. :)  It was good fun!

When we stepped off the bus, we were right in front of the entrance to the Bamboo Forest, but were on the opposite side of the street, right next to a place selling hats! I had to get a hat. They were all so pretty. And I just love pink.

This was taken inside the gates of the Bamboo Forest looking towards the exit.

We browsed the inside of the shop that was selling the hats outside, and it was pretty big inside. They had all kind of things made from bamboo, including tea, cups, toys, souvenirs, and lots of other things.

We left the shop and crossed the street to enter the forest park. Admission was only 2,000W, about $1.80. The park reminded me of Silver Springs park in Ocala, and was basically a nature walk through the, well, bamboo forest.

Inside the Bamboo Forest

Not sure who this was a statue of, but I'm guessing he had something to do with the founding of the park. I was giving his ear a little tug!

Bamboo Forest

Park Map

Up close and personal with the pandas in their cute little outfits! Man, they were friendly! And oddly still...

The Bamboo Forest was set on the side of a mountain, so most of the trails were a steep walk up or down. It was interesting, though, to see all the people walking strollers and small children up and down the mountain like it was nothing. If the USA was full of mountains, I'm sure we'd all be more fit!

After walking up and down the trails for about an hour or so, we came to this little village inside the park that highlighted how ancient people would have lived. It was nothing short of beautiful. I was most fascinated with the red trees.

Village Through the Trees

Check out those fish! Scary!

Told you it was beautiful

Village Buildings

Even the edge of the forest was beautiful

Just before entering the village

"One if by land..."

Spectacular

Fascinating Red Trees

Koi Pond

I solemnly swear that this photo was not photoshopped in the slightest.

Village Through The Bamboo

As you can see from the photos, this little traditional village that was made for the sole purpose of showing visitors how people lived in ancient times, as well as highlighting an ancient-looking garden, is probably the most beautiful place I've been in Korea thus far. The photos, and my amazing natural ability to frame a great picture, do it some justice. But to be there and see just how beautiful it really is and be able to use all five of your senses... words just cannot describe.

After leaving the Bamboo Forest, Maggie, Bomi and I had to get some food because we were about to pass out from all the hiking inside the forest. So Bomi found this quaint little restaurant a few steps away from the forest and we had the best meal that I think each of us have ever had.

It was basically som gyup sol (barbecued pork) with loads of banchan. And when I say 'loads', I mean loads. Check this out:

Look at all that food!!

Cup o' Rice!

Bamboo Rice! YUM!!! With some beans on top for extra flavor. And served in a Bamboo Cup!

Kimchi. I am really surprised how much I actually LOVE kimchi. It's delicious.

 

Yup. That's a fish right there. At least it's missing it's head. Sometimes it's not!

Bean Paste Soup - It's actually a very good creamy soup, kind of like chicken and dumpling, sans the chicken and dumpling, and substituted with spinach and some whole beans. Very tasty.

Check out the damage we did! I didn't touch my black beans, though. Never have liked them.

Three different kinds of kimchi. Radishes. Som gyup sol. Beans. Bean paste soup. Bamboo rice. Fish. About four different sauces. Mushrooms (never liked them until I came here, by the way.) Green beans. More som gyup sol. I was in heaven. 

That meal was incredibly delicious. The sol gyup sol was cooked for us in the kitchen, but every bit of it was exactly how I would have cooked it had we had a barbecue at our table. These Koreans sure do know how to cook.


After lunch, we shot this awesome group picture.

Maggie, Bomi and Me

Then, we wanted to walk over to this famous street in the town where many, many Korean movies have been shot. The street is lined with metasequoia trees, creating a beautiful, shady canopy for all its visitors.

The walk over was quite long, and we had to walk on another street, equally as beautiful, if not more beautiful because of the lack of tourists.

Cute patch of 'sidewalk'

Grape Vines

Grape Vines

Non-Tourist Road Lined with Metasequoias

It was such a great day. Even my hat-hair looked good. :)

Isn't it pretty? I thought so.

When we finally got to the tourist street, it was just as pretty. There were little bike carriages being cycled by young and old alike. We heard this annoying bell coming toward us and wondered who gave those kids a bell. But when they passed us by, we saw they were three women roughly our age! haha  They were having a great time cycling their bike through the street and ringing their bell. Kids were on roller blades and bikes. Children were blowing bubbles in the street. Families were eating lunch on the picnic tables provided on the sides of the street. Vendors were selling food. People were having a great time, myself included. It was pretty unforgettable.

Family On A Bike!

Huge Metqsequoia Trees

I don't so much like this picture of me, but I guess it'll do.

Adorable Little Girl

Women on the Bike with the Bell

Family Outing

It was just an enjoyable time for everyone. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

We walked back to the area of town with the shop we went in when we first arrived and I purchased some bamboo tea, which I still have not tried. I also bought some jasmine perfume. Jasmine is my all-time favorite scent in the entire world, and the perfume I bought smells exactly like the flowers when they are in bloom. It is very, very lovely. Then we walked over to wait for bus 311 to take us back to Gwangju.

The ride back into the city was kind of cramped, as the bus was standing-room only. I got a seat, as we were first to board, but it was a seat with a wheel cap and I had absolutely no leg room at all. I would still like to personally speak with the designer of that bus. It was okay though - it was my very first (or, second, as I was on the bus earlier that day) city bus experience in Korea. And the bus stops on the bus are in Hongul (the name for the Korean character language) and Roman (English) lettering, and now I'm not so intimidated by the city bus.

And I can't wait to return to the Bamboo Forest, camera in hand, and Korea in my heart.